CA3011591A1

CA3011591A1 - A set of panels for an assembled product

Info

Publication number: CA3011591A1
Application number: CA3011591A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Magnus Fridlund
Original assignee: Valinge Innovation AB
Current assignee: Valinge Innovation AB
Priority date: 2016-02-04
Filing date: 2017-02-02
Publication date: 2017-08-10
Also published as: KR20180109957A; RU2018130663A; WO2017135874A1; PL3411599T3; BR112018014377A2; CN108496013B; US11137007B2; JP2019510170A; EP3411599A1; RU2018130663A3; RU2724688C2; US20200102978A1; UA124624C2; JP6891182B2; EP3411599B1; MY189374A; CN108496013A; EP3411599A4; US20170227035A1; US10544818B2

Abstract

A set of panels including a first panel 4 with a first main plane and a second panel 2 with a second main plane. A first edge of the first panel is configured to be locked to a second edge of the second panel, wherein the first main plane is essentially perpendicular to the second main plane, and wherein the first and the second edges are locked in a first direction D1, which is perpendicular to the first main plane, and a second direction D2, which is perpendicular to the second main plane. The first edge includes an edge tongue 22, with a longitudinal direction along the first edge, including a bottom edge 45, a first surface 43 and an opposite second surface 41. The edge groove 21 and/or the edge tongue 22 is/are configured such that a greater force is absorbed by the longitudinalcentral part 61 than by an edge part 62 at the third and fourth edges.

Description

A SET OF PANELS FOR AN ASSEMBLED PRODUCT
Field of the Invention Embodiments of the present invention relate to panels that are configured such .. that may be arranged perpendicular to each other and locked together. The panels may be assembled and locked together to obtain a furniture product, such as a bookshelf, a cupboard, a wardrobe, a box, a drawer or a furniture component.
The locking may comprise a flexible tongue.
Background of the Invention A conventional furniture product may be assembled by a plurality of elements or panels. The panels may be assembled with a mechanical locking system, such as disclosed in, for example, WO 2012/154113 Al. The product comprises a first panel connected perpendicularly to a second panel by a mechanical locking system comprising, an edge tongue at the first panel, an edge groove at the second panel and a flexible tongue in an insertion groove.
In some situations, it may be desired to disassemble or dismantle the product after it has been assembled. WO 2015/038059 discloses a product assembled by a plurality of panels that are locked by a mechanical locking system comprising a flexible tongue in an insertion groove. The mechanical locking system may be unlocked by a dismantling tool, which pushes the flexible tongue into the insertion groove, which facilitates dismantling of the panels.
The panels are generally produced in a continuous production process, comprising a number of milling tools. The edge groove is for production reasons preferably extending contiguously from a front edge to a back edge of the second panel.
An opening of the edge groove at the front edge may be covered by, e.g., a strip.
The edge groove may have an opening at the back edge and a dismantling tool may be inserted through the opening. The opening at the back edge may also have the advantage that the first and the second panel may be assembled or disassembled by displacing the edge tongue relative the edge groove.

2 Embodiments of the present invention address a need to provide a locking with increased strength, particularly at a back edge comprising the opening of edge groove.
Summary of the Invention Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention preferably seek to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more deficiencies, disadvantages or issues in the art, such as the above-identified, singly or in any combination by providing a set of panels, shaped and configured to be locked together, wherein a greater force is absorbed by a central part than an edge part when a load applied to the first and/or the second panel.
A further object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a furniture product with increased strength and stability.
At least some of these and other objects and advantages that will be apparent from the description have been achieved by a set of panels comprising a first panel with a first main plane and a second panel with a second main plane. A first edge of the first panel is configured to be locked to a second edge of the second panel, wherein the first main plane is essentially perpendicular to the second main plane, and wherein the first and the second edges are locked in a first direction, which is perpendicular to the first main plane, and a second direction, which is perpendicular to the second main plane. The first edge comprises an edge tongue, with a longitudinal direction along the first edge, comprising a bottom edge, a first surface and an opposite second surface. The second edge comprises an edge groove, with a longitudinal direction along the second edge, comprising a bottom, a first surface and an opposite second surface. The edge tongue is configured to cooperate with the edge groove for locking together the first and the second edges in the first direction. The first surface of the edge tongue is configured to cooperate, at a longitudinal central part of the first edge and the second edge, with the first surface of the edge groove for said locking in the first direction. The first panel comprises a third edge which is adjacent to the first edge and the second panel comprises a fourth edge which is adjacent to the second edge. The edge groove is extending to the fourth edge. An opening of the edge groove at the fourth edge may have the disadvantage that a crack arises, at the fourth edge at an outer lower

3 part of the edge groove when the load is applied. The edge groove and/or the edge tongue is/are configured such that a greater force is absorbed by the longitudinal central part than by an edge part of the first edge and the second edge at the third and fourth edges, when a load is applied to the first and/or the second panel, such that the arising of the crack may be prevented and to improve the strength of the locking.
The edge groove may have a first groove shape at the edge part and a second groove shape at the longitudinal central.
The edge tongue may have a first tongue shape at the edge part and a second tongue shape at the longitudinal central.
The edge part may have a longitudinal length in the range of about 5 mm to about to about 50 mm, preferably about 20 mm, in the longitudinal direction of the edge groove.
A third surface of the edge tongue may be configured to be at a distance, at said edge part, from a third surface of the edge groove, in a locked position of the first and the second edges. The distance is preferably in the range of about 0,2 mm to about 2 mm, preferably about 0,2 mm to about 0,5 mm. The third surface of the edge tongue may be at a same position, in the second direction, and on a same side of the edge tongue as the first surface of the edge tongue. The third surface of the edge groove may be at a same position, in the second direction, and on a same side of the edge groove as the first surface of the edge groove.
A first thickness of the edge tongue, at the longitudinal central part and at the first surface of the edge tongue, may be greater than a second thickness of the edge tongue. The second thickness may be at the edge part and at a same position, in the second direction, as the first thickness. The difference between the first thickness and the second thickness is preferably in the range of about 0,2 mm to about 2 mm, preferably about 0,2 mm to about 0,5 mm.
A first width of the edge groove, at the edge part, may be greater than a second width of the edge groove, at the longitudinal central part. The second width may be at the first surface of the edge groove and the first width may be at a same position, in the second direction, as the second width. The difference between the

4 PCT/SE2017/050086 first width and the second width is preferably in the range of about 0,2 mm to about 2 mm, preferably about 0,2 mm to about 0,5 mm.
A second distance, which is between the bottom edge and the bottom and at the edge part, may be greater than a first distance, which may be between the bottom edge and the bottom and at the longitudinal central part, in a locked position of the first and the second edges.
The edge tongue may extend over the longitudinal central part and may end before the edge part.
The first surface of the edge tongue and the first surface of edge groove are preferably closer to an outer corner of the first and the second edges, in a locked position of the first and the second edges, than the second surface of the edge tongue and the second surface of the edge groove.
The edge tongue may comprise a tongue groove and the edge groove may comprise a tongue. Said tongue may be configured to cooperate with said tongue groove for locking together the first and the second edges in the second direction.
The tongue may be flexible tongue arranged in an insertion groove.
The flexible tongue is preferably displaceable in the insertion groove.
The insertion groove may extend along essentially the entire length of the edge groove.
The edge groove may extend along essentially the entire length of the second edge.
A core material of the first and the second panel may comprise a wood fibre based board, such as a HDF, MDF, plywood, solid wood or particleboard, or a reinforced plastic board or a wood fibre composite board.
The core may be provided with a decorative layer.
The third and the fourth edges may be back edges, such as back edges of a furniture product.

The first edge and the second edge may have a second edge part opposite the edge part. The second edge part may have the same groove shape, and/or same the same tongue shape as the longitudinal central part.
A second aspect of the invention is a furniture product comprising the set of

5 panels, according to the first aspect. The set of panels may be a part of a frame of the furniture product.
Brief Description of the Drawings These and other aspects, features and advantages of which embodiments of the invention are capable of, will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG 1A shows a 3D-view of an embodiment of the invention FIG 1B shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG 1A
FIG 2A shows a 3D-view of an embodiment of the invention FIG 2B shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG 2A
FIG 3A shows a 3D-view of an embodiment of the invention FIG 3B shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG 3A
FIG 4A shows crosscut of an embodiment of the longitudinal central part of an embodiment of the invention FIG 4B shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG 4A
FIG 5A shows the enlargement in FIG 4A without the edge tongue FIG 5B shows the enlargement in FIG 4A without the edge groove FIG 6A-6B show embodiments of the edge part in a side view of an embodiment of the invention FIGS 7A-7B show embodiments of the edge part in a side view of an embodiment of the invention FIGS 8A-8F show a part of the invention comprising an embodiment of the flexible tongue.

6 Description of embodiments Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.
Embodiments are shown that may decrease the risk that a crack arises at joined portions of a first and a second panel.
Embodiments of the invention shown in FIG 1A ¨ 7B comprise a set of panels comprising a first panel 4 with a first main plane and a second panel 2 with a second main plane. A first edge of the first panel is configured to be locked to a second edge of the second panel, wherein the first main plane is essentially perpendicular to the second main plane, and wherein the first and the second edges are locked in a first direction D1, which is perpendicular to the first main plane, and a second direction D2, which is perpendicular to the second main plane.
The first edge comprises an edge tongue 22, with a longitudinal direction along the first edge, comprising a bottom edge 45, a first surface 43 and an opposite second surface 41. The second edge comprises an edge groove 21, with a longitudinal direction along the second edge, comprising a bottom 44, a first surface 42 and an opposite second surface 40. The edge tongue 22 is configured to cooperate with the edge groove 21 for locking together the first and the second edges in the first direction Dl. The first surface 43 of the edge tongue 22 is configured to cooperate, at a longitudinal central part, with the first surface 42 of the edge groove 21 for said locking in the first direction Dl. The first panel 4 comprises a third edge 65 which is adjacent to the first edge and the second panel 2 comprises a fourth edge 64 which is adjacent to the second edge. The edge groove 21 extends to the fourth edge 64. The edge groove 21 and/or the edge tongue 22 is/are configured such that a greater force is absorbed by the longitudinal central part 61 than by an edge part 62 at the third and fourth edges 63,64, when a load 58 is applied to the first

7 and/or the second panel 4,2. The third and the fourth edges 63,64 may be back edges, such as back edges of a furniture product.
FIG 1A shows an embodiment of the edge groove which at the edge part 62 has a first groove shape and the longitudinal central part 61 has a second groove shape.
The first groove shape comprises a width which is wider than a width of the second groove shape, at a corresponding position.
The first edge and the second edge may have a second edge part 66 opposite the edge part 62. The second edge part 66 may have the same groove shape, and/or same the same tongue shape as the longitudinal central part 61.
FIG 1B shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG 1A. The edge groove may be formed by displacing a milling tool along the second edge and displacing the milling tool in the first direction at the wider edge part. The edge tongue may have uniform shape in a longitudinal direction of the edge tongue. The edge part may have a longitudinal length in the range of about 5 mm to about 50 mm, preferably about 20 mm, in the longitudinal direction of the edge groove.
FIG 2A shows an embodiment of the edge tongue which is extending over longitudinal central part 61 and ends before the edge part 62. FIG 2B shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG 2A.
A second edge part 66, opposite the edge part 62, may have a shape different from the longitudinal central part 61 and the edge part 62. For example, the tongue shape, in the second edge part 66 may be essentially the same as the tongue shape in the edge part 62. However, the groove shape in the second edge part may be different from the groove shape of either the longitudinal central part and the edge part 62. For example, the groove in the second edge part 66 may not extent to the end of the edge. For example, the end of the groove may be about mm to about 50 mm, preferably about 20 mm from the end of the second edge.
The edge tongue may be formed by displacing a milling tool along the first edge and displacing the milling tool in the first direction at the edge part. The edge part may have a longitudinal length in the range of about 5 mm to about 50 mm, preferably about 20 mm, in the longitudinal direction of the edge tongue.

8 FIG 3A shows an embodiment of the edge tongue which at the edge part 62 has a first tongue shape and at the longitudinal central part 61 has a second tongue shape. The first tongue shape has a thickness which is thinner than a thickness of the second tongue shape, at a corresponding position.
A second edge part 66, opposite the edge part 62, may have the same groove shape, and/or same the same tongue shape as the longitudinal central part 61.
FIG 3B shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG 3A. The edge tongue may be formed by displacing a milling tool along the first edge and displacing the milling tool in the first direction at the thinner edge part. The edge groove may have a uniform groove shape in a longitudinal direction of the edge tongue. The edge part may have a longitudinal length in the range of about 5 mm to about 50 mm, preferably about 20 mm, in the longitudinal direction of the edge tongue.
Embodiments of the invention may provide advantage particularly for embodiments of the second panel comprising a core comprising fibres arranged essentially parallel to the second main plane. Such a second panel involves increased risk that a crack arises.
FIG 4A shows a crosscut of an embodiment of the longitudinal central part 61 comprising the first panel 4 and the second panel 2 in a locked position. FIG

shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG 4A. The first surface 43 of the edge tongue 22 and the first surface 42 of edge groove are closer to an outer corner 63 of the first and the second edges, than the second surface 41 of the edge tongue 22 and the second surface 40 of the edge groove 21. The bottom edge 45 and the bottom 44 are positioned at a first distance 50 from each other.
FIG 4B shows that the first surface 43 of the edge tongue 22 cooperates with the first surface 42 of the edge groove 21 for said locking in the first direction Dl. The second surface 41 of the edge tongue 22 preferably cooperates with the second surface 40 of the edge groove 21 for a locking in the first direction Dl. The greatest risk for a crack may be at a lower part 67 of the edge groove when a load 58, 58', 58" is applied to the first and/or second panel. The crack is more likely to arise at the fourth edge 64. The crack may thereafter propagate along the second edge.
By lowering the load on the edge part of edge groove and the edge tongue an initiation of a crack may be prevented.

9 The edge tongue 22 may comprise a tongue groove 10 and the edge groove 21 comprises a tongue 30, said tongue is configured to cooperate with said tongue groove 10 for locking together the first and the second edges in the second direction D2.
The tongue is preferably a flexible tongue 30 which may be arranged in an insertion groove 20.
The insertion groove may 20 extend along essentially the entire length of the edge groove 21.
The flexible tongue 30 is preferably displaceable in the insertion groove 20.
The edge groove 21 may extend along essentially the entire length of the second edge.
FIG 5A shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG 4A without the edge tongue. The embodiment comprises a second width 51 of the edge groove 21, at the longitudinal central part 61, at the first surface 42 of the edge groove 21.
FIG 5B shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG 4A without the edge groove. The embodiment comprises a first thickness 52 of the edge tongue 22, at the longitudinal central part and at the first surface 43 of the edge tongue 22.
An embodiment of the edge part 62 is shown in a crosscut in FIG 6A. The embodiment comprises a second thickness 54 of the edge tongue 22 at the edge part and at a same position, in the second direction D2, as the first thickness 52, see FIG 5B. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The difference between the first thickness 52 and the second thickness 54 is preferably in the range of about 0,2 mm to about 2 mm, preferably about 0,2 mm to about 0,5 mm.
An embodiment of the edge part 62 is shown in a crosscut in FIG 6B. The embodiment comprises a first width 53 of the edge groove 21, at the edge part 62.
The first width 53 is greater than the second width 51 of the edge groove 21, at the longitudinal central part 61, see FIG 5A. The first width 53 is at a same position, in the second direction D2, as the second width 51. The difference between the first width 53 and the second width 51 is may be in the range of about 0,2 mm to about 2 mm, preferably about 0,2 mm to about 0,5 mm.

The embodiments shown in FIG 6A-6B comprises a third surface 71 of the edge tongue which is configured to be at a distance 55, at said edge part, from a third surface 72 of the edge groove, in a locked position of the first and the second edges. The distance is preferably in the range of about 0,2 mm to about 2mm, 5 preferably about 0,2 mm to about 0,5 mm. The third surface 71 of the edge tongue is at a same position, in the second direction D2, and on a same side of the edge tongue 22 as the first surface 43 of the edge tongue 22. The third surface 72 of the edge groove 21 is at a same position, in the second direction D2, and on a same side of the edge groove 21 as the first surface 42 of the edge groove 21.

10 An embodiment of the edge part 62 is shown in a crosscut in FIG 7A. The bottom edge 45 and the bottom 44 are positioned at a second distance 56 from each other. The second distance 56 is greater than the first distance 50, which is between the bottom edge and the bottom and at the longitudinal central part 61, see FIG 4B, in a locked position of the first and the second edges.
.. An embodiment of the edge part 62 is shown in a crosscut in FIG 7B. In this embodiment the edge tongue is removed, preferably by a mechanical cutting, such as milling.
A core material of embodiments of the first and the second panel described above may comprises a wood fibre based board, such as a HDF, MDF, plywood, solid wood or particleboard, or a reinforced plastic board or a wood fibre composite board. The core may be provided with a decorative layer An embodiment of the flexible tongue 30, which is displaceable in an insertion groove 20, is shown in FIGS 8A-D. FIGS 8A-8B show the flexible tongue 30 in a locked potion and FIGS 8C-8D show the flexible tongue 30 during assembling of .. the first panel 4 and the second panel 2. FIG 8B shows a cross section of the flexible tongue 30 in FIG 8A. FIG 8D shows a cross section of the flexile tongue 30 in FIG 8C. The flexible tongue 30 comprises bendable protruding parts 24. A
space 23 is provided between the flexible tongue 30 and a bottom wall of the insertion groove 20. FIG 8C shows that the flexible tongue 30 is pushed into the insertion groove 20 and towards the bottom wall of the insertion groove 20 during an assembly of the first panel 4 with the second panel 2. The flexible tongue 30 springs back toward its initial position when the first panel 4 and the second panel

11 8 have reached a locked position. A recess 25 is preferably arranged at each bendable protruding part.
The flexible tongue 30 may have a first displacement surface 26 and an opposite second displacement surface 27, configured to be displaced along a third displacement surface 28 and a fourth displacement locking surface 29, respectively, of the insertion groove 20.
An alternative embodiment of the flexible tongue 30, without the protruding bendable parts 24, is shown in FIGS 8E-8F. FIG 8F shows a cross section of the flexible tongue 30 shown in FIG 8E. The alternative embodiment is bendable in its length direction in order to accomplish a similar function as the embodiment shown in FIGS 8A-8D.
The set of panels described above may be a part of a furniture product, such as a frame.

Claims

12

1. A set of panels comprising a first panel (4) with a first main plane and a second panel (2) with a second main plane, wherein a first edge of the first panel is configured to be locked to a second edge of the second panel, wherein the first main plane is essentially perpendicular to the second main plane, and wherein the first and the second edges are locked in a first direction (D1), which is perpendicular to the first main plane, and a second direction (D2), which is perpendicular to the second main plane, wherein the first edge comprises an edge tongue (22), with a longitudinal direction along the first edge, comprising a bottom edge (45), a first surface (43) and an opposite second surface (41), wherein the second edge comprises an edge groove (21), with a longitudinal direction along the second edge, comprising a bottom (44), a first surface (42) and an opposite second surface (40), wherein the edge tongue (22) is configured to cooperate with the edge groove (21) for locking together the first and the second edges in the first direction (D1), characterized in:
.cndot. that the first surface (43) of the edge tongue (22) is configured to cooperate, at a longitudinal central part of the first edge and the second edge, with the first surface (42) of the edge groove (21) for said locking in the first direction (D1), .cndot. that the first panel (4) comprises a third edge (65) which is adjacent to the first edge and the second panel (2) comprises a fourth edge (64) which is adjacent to the second edge, .cndot. that the edge groove (21) extends to the fourth edge (64), and .cndot. that the edge groove (21) and/or the edge tongue (22) is/are configured such that a greater force, is absorbed by the longitudinal central part (61) than by an edge part (62) of the first edge and the second edge at the third and fourth edges, when a load (58) is applied to the first and/or the second panel (4,2).

2. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the edge groove (21) has a first groove shape at the edge part (62) and a second groove shape at the longitudinal central (61), wherein the first groove shape is different from the second groove shape.

3. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the edge tongue (22) has a first tongue shape at the edge part (62) and a second tongue shape at the longitudinal central (61), wherein the first tongue shape is different from the second tongue shape.

4. The set of panels as claimed in any one of the claims 1-3, wherein the edge part (62) has a longitudinal length in the range of about 5 mm to about 50 mm, preferably about 20 mm, in the longitudinal direction of the edge groove.

5. The set of panels as claimed in any one of the claims 1-4, wherein a third surface (71) of the edge tongue is configured to be at a distance (55), at said edge part, from a third surface (72) of the edge groove, in a locked position of the first and the second edges, the distance is preferably in the range of about 0,2 mm to about 2 mm, preferably about 0,2 mm to about 0,5 mm, wherein the third surface (71) of the edge tongue is at a same position, in the second direction (D2), and on a same side of the edge tongue (22) as the first surface (43) of the edge tongue (22), and wherein the third surface (72) of the edge groove (21) is at a same position, in the second direction (D2), and on a same side of the edge groove (21) as the first surface (42) of the edge groove (21).

6. The set of panels as claimed in any one of the claims 1-5, wherein a first thickness (52) of the edge tongue (22), at the longitudinal central part and at the first surface (43) of the edge tongue (22), is greater than a second thickness (54) of the edge tongue (22), at the edge part and at a same position, in the second direction (D2), as the first thickness (52), the difference between the first thickness and the second thickness is preferably in the range of about 0,2 mm to about 2 mm, preferably about 0,2 mm to about 0,5 mm.

7. The set of panels as claimed in any one of the claims 1-6, wherein a first width (53) of the edge groove (21), at the edge part (62), is greater than a second width (51) of the edge groove (21), at the longitudinal central part (61), wherein the second width (51) is at the first surface (42) of the edge groove (21) and the first width (53) is at a same position, in the second direction (D2), as the second width (51), the difference between the first width (53) and the second width (51) is preferably in the range of about 0,2 mm to about 2 mm, preferably about 0,2 mm to about 0,5 mm.

8. The set of panels as claimed in any one of the claims 1-7, wherein a second distance (56), which is between the bottom edge (45) and the bottom (44) and at the edge part (62), is greater than a first distance (50), which is between the bottom edge and the bottom and at the longitudinal central part (61), in a locked position of the first and the second edges.

9. The set of panels as claimed in any one of the claim 1-4, wherein edge tongue (22) extends over the longitudinal central part (61) and ends before the edge part (62).

10. The set of panels as claimed in any one of the claims 1-9, wherein the first surface (43) of the edge tongue (22) and the first surface (42) of edge groove are closer to an outer corner (63) of the first and the second edges, in a locked position of the first and the second edges, than the second surface (41) of the edge tongue (22) and the second surface (40) of the edge groove (21).

11. The set of panels as claimed in any one of the claims 1-10, wherein the edge tongue (22) comprises a tongue groove (10) and the edge groove (21) comprises a tongue (30), said tongue is configured to cooperate with said tongue groove (10) for locking together the first and the second edges in the second direction (D2).

12. The set of panels as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tongue is a flexible tongue (30) arranged in an insertion groove (20)

13. The set of panels as claimed in claim 12, wherein the insertion groove (20) extends along essentially the entire length of the edge groove (21).

14. The set of panels as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the flexible tongue (30) is displaceable in the insertion groove (20).

15. The set of panels as claimed in any one of the claims 1-14, wherein the edge groove (21) extends along essentially the entire length of the second edge.

16. The set of panels as claimed in any one of the claims 1-15, wherein a core material of the first and the second panel comprises a wood fibre based board, such as a HDF, MDF, plywood, solid wood or particleboard, or a reinforced plastic board or a wood fibre composite board.

17. The set of panels as claimed in claim 16, wherein the core is provided with a decorative layer.